National Planning Policy Framework

Baroness Bakewell Excerpts

Monday 23rd January 2012 Lords Chamber

Asked By

[Baroness Bakewell]

To ask Her Majesty’s Government what safeguards are contained in the national planning policy framework to protect cultural institutions.

[The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department for Communities and Local Government (Baroness Hanham)]

The Government recognise the valuable role cultural institutions, such as theatres, museums and libraries, play in people’s everyday lives. As part of the simplification of planning policies under the national planning policy framework, it was decided to include cultural development under the general heading of leisure and community facilities, rather than setting out a long list of specific categories. Our policies are intended to support local authorities that want to include cultural institutions as an integral part of the vision for their areas.

[Baroness Bakewell]

I thank the Minister for the Answer but she will know that there has been concern for some time that cultural interests are not specifically mentioned in the national planning policy framework; and that last December the local government Select Committee recommended that they should be included. With the Redgrave Theatre in Farnham threatened with demolition and the Greenwich Playhouse closing its doors, will the Minister put on record the Government’s specific resolve to protect cultural interests?

[Baroness Hanham]

My Lords, the Government intend to see protection for all cultural interests but, as I have explained to the noble Baroness, under the draft national planning policy framework, cultural interests have been included under community facilities, rather than under a specific heading of “cultural institutions”. If that needs reinterpreting, it will come about as a result of the consultation on the national policy planning framework that has taken place over the past three months.